LOGIN*Kiera* Two hours later, we stumble out of the elevator, nearly tripping each other as we try to kiss and walk at the same time. I’m a bit drunk, but I don’t care. Will has me in his arms. He’s kissing me, and I never want him to stop. This is what I have been dreaming off… the want, the need, not second guessing everything… and I am okay with the fact that it took some sake to get here. He backs me up against the door, my ass slamming into the doorknob, as he fumbles and drops his keys to the floor. “For helvede,” he mutters. Okay, maybe he’s a little tipsy too. By the end of the night, I lost track of how many times we had sake shots. Things really got out of hand when our waitress, Kiko, taught us a Japanese drinking song… but we had a blast and I am sure the photographer got some great shots. Will and I kissed all the way back to the apartment in the uber. Now his internal English translator seems to be not working as Well as usual. He mumbles something in Danish, looking for
*Kiera* The ambiance of the restaurant wraps around us like a warm embrace. Bamboo accents and soft lighting cast a golden hue over the polished wood tables, and the faint sound of running water from the indoor koi pond creates a soothing backdrop. I can’t help but feel a flutter of excitement as we’re led to our table. Will walks beside me, his hand casually intertwined with mine, and I can’t resist the urge to glance up at him. He looks handsome tonight, dressed in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing his strong forearms. I’ve always found that little detail incredibly attractive. It’s like he knows how to strike the perfect balance between casual and formal, and it’s working wonders for my heart rate. As we settle into our seats, I can feel the weight of the evening’s significance. This isn’t just a date; it’s a statement. But more than that, it’s a chance for me to be close to Will, to feel the subtle shift in our dynamic as we navigate this world togethe
*Will* Within thirty minutes, we bid farewell to Cheryl at the door. She gathered all her photos and asked numerous questions, including a few directed at Frida. Cheryl warned us that we wouldn’t hear anything for a few weeks. For me, that's a relief… I can push the case from my mind. No action needed. For Kiera, it’s a source of fixation and worry that will consume her every hour of every day until she reaches out to us again. We all have our own coping mechanisms. Almost as soon as Cheryl leaves, Kiera lets out a frustrated sigh. “Why did I think wearing this blouse was a good idea?” She quickly pulls it off over her head and dashes away. Tina laughs as she follows her into the kitchen, while I finish getting Frida settled on the couch with her coloring books. Tina is staying through the evening because Kiera and I are being coerced by Candy to continue with Operation Roots. Tonight is date two, where I’ll join Kiera for dinner with another couple. I’m dreading it. I want to be
*Will* “Stop fidgeting,” I mutter. “I’m not fidgeting.” Next to me, Kiera tugs at the collar of the pretty blouse She is wearing again. My lips purse, and she curses under his breath. “Fucking stop, alright? Just let me fidget.” Cheryl, our representative from the child welfare office, finishes her phone call, turning back to face us. She’s a middle-aged lady with greying hair cut in a blunt bob. “So sorry about that. Never a dull moment, as they say.” “Oh, that’s totally fine,” Kiera says with a warm but nervous smile. She checks her notes on her tablet. “So, you were walking me through her daily routine.” “Yes.” Kiera drops my hand and sweeps forward, gesturing all around the living room as she shows her Frida’s art wall and craft station. She’s talking faster than normal, clearly nervous. “And this has all been great for retaining her fine motor skills. Once her arm cast comes off in a couple weeks, we’ll be starting on the manipulatives, like molder’s clay.” Ch
*Kiera* He wants to practice wanting me, whatever the fuck that means. And this afternoon, he kissed me. Did he even like it? I think he did, but maybe I’m just projecting how much I liked it. He said he’s never felt sexual attraction before. When he’s gone through the motions in the past, he said he felt nothing. My god, nothing? I can’t even imagine… Wait. What if he was kissing me and he was, like, felt nothing? What if he was counting by fives or making a grocery list? I don’t think I can let him tell me. We’ll have to develop some kind of hand signal instead, and I’ll just disappear into the sunset. Squashing down these scary thoughts, I try to make myself busy by cleaning up Frida’s art supplies. We’ve been working on her fine motor skills, so I got her a gem art set. It comes with all these premade designs and she loves making them. And yes, we used some of the gems to make funny designs on our faces while watching cartoons. I shuffle all the papers together, put th
*Kiera*That was our first kiss.Will drops his hands away from me, and I'm left swaying on the spot. Thank god I'm turned away from the room so no one can see my flushed cheeks and dreaming eyes. Some people are into public displays, but that's never been me. I was just so desperate for Will to see me, hear me, that I didn't care that we weren't alone.Will.He sits on the edge of the table, ice pack wrapped around one shoulder, hair a mess from my hands. His lips are parted, still wet from my claiming kiss. And he's looking at me like I'm the answer to every question he's never thought to ask.I have to remember this moment. I want it tattooed on my brain. The way he's looking at me now? He's not seeing Kiera the secretary, or Kiera the fake wife, who wraps ice packs on shoulders. He doesn't even see Kiera the caretaker, who over-bakes cookies and braids Frida's hair. For the first time since we met, the man I've loved and longed for sees me.And I think he likes what he sees.This
*Kiera*I can feel the weight of Will’s confession settling into the small space of the car. His words echo in my mind, wrapping around my heart like a vice. I want to reach out and touch him, to let him know that he’s not alone in this, but I can’t shake the feeling that any move I make could shat
*Will*The engine roars to life, and I’m grateful for the sound to fill the silence between us. I keep my gaze fixed on the road, the streetlights flickering past like the thoughts racing through my mind. Kiera’s voice lingers, echoing in my ears. She wanted me to kiss her. Hell, I wanted to kiss h
*Kiera*I wait, breathless, as that electric moment stretches out between us. The air is thick with unspoken words, and all I want is for him to close the distance. But instead, nothing happens. My heart races, a wild drum echoing in my ears, and I realize I want him to kiss me. I want it so desper
*Kiera*I blink at Will, trying to make sense of what he just said… then the weight of his words settles over me like a heavy blanket. “Will, stop this,” I say, forcing my voice steady. “I was the one who suggested marriage. I wasn’t coerced, forced or anything else. I want you to trust that I can







